and MacCauly a Scotchman,
came rudely upon the quarter deck as if they took the opportunity
because the merchants were present, believing the captain would not use
any violence with them in the presence of the merchants.

They made a long complaint of all their ill-usage, and particularly of
their provisions and allowance, as they said, being not sufficient nor
such as was ordinarily made in other merchant ships, seeming to load the
captain, Monsieur Ferneau, with being the occasion of it, and that he
did it for his private gain, which however had not been true. If the
fact had been true, the overplus of provisions (if the stores had been
more than sufficient) belonged to the owners, not to the captain, at the
end of the voyage, there being also a steward on board to take the
account. In making this complaint they seemed to direct their speech to
the merchants as well as to the captain, as if they had been concerned
in the ship, or as if desiring them to intercede for them with the
captain, that they might have redress and a better allowance.

The captain was highly provoked at this rudeness, as indeed he had
reason, it being a double affront to him as it was done in the view of
the merchants who were come on board to him, to do him an honour at
parting. However, he restrained his passion, and gave them not the least
angry word, only that if they were aggrieved they had no more to do but
to let him have know of it; that if they were ill-used it was not by his
order that he would enquire into it and if anything was amiss it should
be rectified, with which the seamen withdrew, seemingly well satisfied
with his answer.

About five the same evening they unmoored the ship and hove short upon
their best bower anchor, awaiting the land breeze (as is usual on that
coast) to carry them out to sea; but instead of that, it fell stark
calm, and the captain fearing the ship would fall foul of her own
anchor, ordered the mizen top-sail to be furled. Peterson, one of the
malcontent seamen, being the nearest man at hand seemed to go about it,
but moved so carelessly and heavily that it appeared plainly he did not
care whether it was done or no, and particularly as if he had a mind the
captain should see it and take notice of it. Which the captain did, for
perceiving how awkwardly he went about it, he spoke a little tartly to
him, and asked him what was the reason he did not stir a little and furl
the sail. Peterson, as if he had wai